Ork Deffcoptas are your most expensive Fast Attack option at 35 pts per model. Let's just get that out there right now.That said, let's check their stats:
WS 4, BS 2, S 3, T 4(5), W 2, I 2, A 2, Ld 7, Sv 4+
Mob Rule seems a worthless add-on, since you're limited to no more than 5 models per squad.
Furious Charge and Waaagh! are nice to have, though standard for the army.
Deffcoptas are considered Jetbikes. Hopping over terrain is sweet.
Also, they benefit from both the Scout and Hit and Run rules. Everything here is pointing towards a highly maneuverable unit. Let's check out their equipment:
Twin-Linked Big Shoota. This is the standard equipment. It sounds nice, but Warbikers have a similar gun (although not TL) and are about 10 points cheaper per model.
Twin-Linked Rokkit Launcha is a 10pt upgrade per model. Despite how expensive this makes the models, I like the idea of highly mobile TL Rokkit Launchas.
Kustom Mega Blasta is a 5 pt upgrade. This is basically the same as the above Rokkit Launcha, just not Twin-linked ... which now means less guns hitting their targets.
Bigbomm is a 15pt add-on. It looks like a huge waste of time and points, as you have to fly over where the template is placed, it will scatter, and it's ony S4, AP5
Buzzsaw is a 25pt add-on. This is essentially a Power Klaw. Something to keep in mind here, is that you're paying the same 25 pts that a Nob pays for this upgrade. A Deffcopta's Strength is 3 (making this an S6 Power Klaw) vs a Nob's Strength of 4 (an S8 Power Klaw). Same price for a worse version. Save the 25 for a Nob, they can do it better.
OK, so we've covered all of their options. Lets look at how they would be used.
With the standard gear, they seem like overpriced Warbikers. More maneuverable, yes, but also limited to very small mobs of up to 5. The mob limit of 5 makes them highly vulnerable to any kind of assault, regardless of Hit and Run. The part that interests me is the TL Rokkit Launchas. That upgrade makes them 45 pts/model, though. 5 'coptas would be a 225 pt mob. While the idea of 5 TL Rokkit Launchas hitting side/rear armour ... I'm not sure I'm convinced that they're worth the points. Compare them to Warbuggies, though (another Fast Attack option); A Warbuggy with a TL Rokkit Launcha is only 35 pts/model. That's 10 points cheaper.
Here's a differing opinion on the buzzsaw/rokkit take. His answer to the cost? Take sacrificial squads of 1-2.
"Buzzsaws are crappy if you're using them as anti-infantry weapon. The real point of a buzzsaw is to be S7 versus a vehicles rear armor during assault. With few exceptions (land raiders, monoliths), that gives you a 50% chance to get a pen with each hit. And if you get first turn, that means you'll probably get 1 or 2 pens per deffkopta on any vehicle you can reach.
I run units of 1 or 2. They are sacrificial units. If I go first, they scout-turboboost, then go for the side/rear armor on a transport or gun platform, and aim to assault that vehicle. If I go second, they outflank and do the same. Even if they don't actually kill anything, the opponent has to stop and deal with them, giving the rest of your orks time to get to optimal charge range.
My most recent game had a great example of this. At 2000 points I had 3 units of 2, all with rokkits and buzzsaws, up against a Blood Angels army with 2 Baals, a Whirlwind, and a couple of Rhinos. I got to go first, and on that first turn, between the 6 koptas, they killed a Rhino and stunned or shook every other vehicle and assaulted a the only tac marine combat squad with a long range anti-tank weapon. By turn 3 the Whirlwind was dead and neither Predator ever got to shoot before the battle wagons with deffrollas arrived to finish them off. One Kopta even survived long enough to help kill off most of the combat squad of Tac marines.
All 6 deffkoptas died, but in doing so they kept everything that could have targeted my Trukks and Battlewagons early game until those my troops were delivered into combat. My Nobz, Mega Nobz, and Shoota boyz all got do exactly what they do best and as a result I tabled my opponent."
-DaR
Most of this is speculation over what I see in the books. To be honest, I haven't actually had the opportunity to field them much (just finished painting them). Have any of you guys used Deffcoptas? What have your experiences been with this unit? Leave a comment, I might just add your input to the post.
I use deffcoptas. The bombz are useful as you can turboboost and drop them - think they pin (?). The twin-linked rockets are useful as you can get in behind tanks using turbo (with the save) and shoot up side and rear armour. Buzz saw is a waste of points. The choppas are too useful as mobile tankbustas.
ReplyDeleteI don't play Orks, but a friend does. He uses Deffkoptas quite well as an early game distraction. He'll take 1-2 of them and since you can turboboost as the scout move, he can put them right in front of the enemy on the first turn. Then if he has the first turn, he can get a first turn charge with them against tanks that haven't moved, virtually guaranteeing some damage. His are usually equipped with rokkits and buzz saws.
ReplyDeleteIf he doesn't have first turn, it's a bit less useful, but they still serve as a good distraction, since they're right in the opponent's face on the first turn.
I too am a big fan of buzzsaws and rokkits.
ReplyDeleteBuzzsaws are crappy if you're using them as anti-infantry weapon. The real point of a buzzsaw is to be S7 versus a vehicles rear armor during assault. With few exceptions (land raiders, monoliths), that gives you a 50% chance to get a pen with each hit. And if you get first turn, that means you'll probably get 1 or 2 pens per deffkopta on any vehicle you can reach.
I run units of 1 or 2. They are sacrificial units. If I go first, they scout-turboboost, then go for the side/rear armor on a transport or gun platform, and aim to assault that vehicle. If I go second, they outflank and do the same. Even if they don't actually kill anything, the opponent has to stop and deal with them, giving the rest of your orks time to get to optimal charge range.
My most recent game had a great example of this. At 2000 points I had 3 units of 2, all with rokkits and buzzsaws, up against a Blood Angels army with 2 Baals, a Whirlwind, and a couple of Rhinos. I got to go first, and on that first turn, between the 6 koptas, they killed a Rhino and stunned or shook every other vehicle and assaulted a the only tac marine combat squad with a long range anti-tank weapon. By turn 3 the Whirlwind was dead and neither Predator ever got to shoot before the battle wagons with deffrollas arrived to finish them off. One Kopta even survived long enough to help kill off most of the combat squad of Tac marines.
All 6 deffkoptas died, but in doing so they kept everything that could have targeted my Trukks and Battlewagons early game until those my troops were delivered into combat. My Nobz, Mega Nobz, and Shoota boyz all got do exactly what they do best and as a result I tabled my opponent.
The other good target for Deffkoptas is a nice juicy Devastator squad. Small 5 man squads die nicely to 3 Deffkoptas with a buzzsaw. Remember those twin-linked rokkits are Assault, so charge in straight afterwards.
ReplyDeleteTwo units of one dethcopta is standard issue in my WaaaggH! Always turboboost scout move up in the opponents face either get a first turn assault to take down armour or they take alot of fire that my trukks would normally take. A +3 cover save for turboboosting make them pretty durable
ReplyDeletebuzz saws are only useful if your up against a fast moving assault based army like tyranids (genestealers and they're fleet of claw grrr)
ReplyDeleteThat way it helps them do some more damage while in close combat and hold they're own long enough to get in reinforcements
I've had mixed results with Deffcoptas myself, but this is a nice little write-up. One thing I must correct you on though, GW Errata'd Coptas to not have the Waaugh, and Warbikers Guns ARE Twin linked.
ReplyDeletemany info hire in this post its so interesting and informative.........
ReplyDeletebusiness checksgirly checks
Played this weekend against IG, had 5 in one unit, outflanked a pair (in squadron) of Lehman Russ and took them both out. TL rockets only.I need to build my buzzsaws to deploy them. Passed on the bigbombs this time. 5 did some damage the week before. Thanks for reading. Dave
ReplyDelete